An interesting article by David Frum in CNN.com. Very surprised by the contentions they made, in that it has always been the elephant in the room. Sadly, I would have to concur with this view. While I am a Democrat at heart, I feel that without a working two-party system, there is merely gridlock in Congress.

(CNN) -- Last month, two political scientists published one of those rare op-eds that gets the political community talking.

The thesis of the piece was contained in the title: "Let's just say it: The Republicans are the problem."

In case that was not clear enough, the authors elaborated: "We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years, and never have we seen them this dysfunctional.

"In our past writings, we have criticized both parties when we believed it was warranted. Today, however, we have no choice but to acknowledge that the core of the problem lies with the Republican Party.

"The GOP has become an insurgent outlier in American politics. It is ideologically extreme; scornful of compromise; unmoved by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science; and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition.

"When one party moves this far from the mainstream, it makes it nearly impossible for the political system to deal constructively with the country's challenges."

An interesting article by David Frum in CNN.com. Very surprised by the contentions they made, in that it has always been the elephant in the room. Sadly, I would have to concur with this view. While I am a Democrat at heart, I feel that without a working two-party system, there is merely gridlock in Congress.

(CNN) -- Last month, two political scientists published one of those rare op-eds that gets the political community talking.

The thesis of the piece was contained in the title: "Let's just say it: The Republicans are the problem."

In case that was not clear enough, the authors elaborated: "We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years, and never have we seen them this dysfunctional.

"In our past writings, we have criticized both parties when we believed it was warranted. Today, however, we have no choice but to acknowledge that the core of the problem lies with the Republican Party.

"The GOP has become an insurgent outlier in American politics. It is ideologically extreme; scornful of compromise; unmoved by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science; and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition.

"When one party moves this far from the mainstream, it makes it nearly impossible for the political system to deal constructively with the country's challenges."

David Frum has long been a mouthpiece for the Democrat party. This sort of partisan rhetoric doesn't shed any light on the situation. It will thrill Democrats who believe only that "mainstream" is whatever they happen to believe. If Republicans are outliers, why di they trounce the Democrats in mod-terms? It's because the Democrats were outliers.

David Frum has long been a mouthpiece for the Democrat party. This sort of partisan rhetoric doesn't shed any light on the situation. It will thrill Democrats who believe only that "mainstream" is whatever they happen to believe. If Republicans are outliers, why di they trounce the Democrats in mod-terms? It's because the Democrats were outliers.

Well, I think that David Frum, and the Democratic Party, would be surprised about this classification. So, once again, let us agree to disagree. Paix, mon ami.

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Dr.G.
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"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read these books." Mark Twain

David Frum has been on the outs with conservatives for years, Dr. G. He's a conservative in everything but the stands he takes on important conservative issues.

He may be on the "outs" with some conservatives, but he is hardly a spokesperson for the Democratic Party. Pres. Obama is on the outs with some liberals on various issues, but that does not make him a Republican.

Paix, mon ami.

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Dr.G.
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"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read these books." Mark Twain

The Republicans have been cultivating extremism as a political tactic since the 1970's and they've become a party of Bill O'Reilys, Rick Santorums, Michele Bachmanns, and Sara Palins. They embrace ignorance, superstition, fear and violence, and disparage thoughtful consideration, science, learning and tolerance. While they still mouth platitudes about "small government" and "lower taxes" these have become meaningless slogans, as their policies have been consistently about enriching the rich, expanding military interventions abroad, and expanding the police-state at home.

The Republicans really are what is wrong with America. The fact that about half of Americans fall for them is primarily indicative of the fact that the average American does not have the education or the information necessary to see through their lies.

The Republicans have been cultivating extremism as a political tactic since the 1970's and they've become a party of Bill O'Reilys, Rick Santorums, Michele Bachmanns, and Sara Palins. They embrace ignorance, superstition, fear and violence, and disparage thoughtful consideration, science, learning and tolerance. While they still mouth platitudes about "small government" and "lower taxes" these have become meaningless slogans, as their policies have been consistently about enriching the rich, expanding military interventions abroad, and expanding the police-state at home.

The Republicans really are what is wrong with America. The fact that about half of Americans fall for them is primarily indicative of the fact that the average American does not have the education or the information necessary to see through their lies.

Interesting points, bryanc. While I would agree with your first paragraph, especially about the cultivation of extremism as a "political tactic", I am not sure I will agree with your last comment about the "average American" and his/her education or "information to see through their lies". I have friends throughout the US who I would consider to be far smarter than me, all of who are voting Republicans. One is a strong support of Ron Paul, one of Rick Perry, two for Newt Gingrich and one who goes from supporting John Kennedy as a boy, working for Robert Kennedy when he ran for Senator in NY State, to openly supporting and working for Ronald Reagan. Of course, one of my best friend's views went from openly supporting Barry Goldwater prior to meeting me to helping me run as a delegate from New York State to the 1968 Democratic convention supporting Gene McCarthy.

So, I would not want to make such a blanket statement that you seem to have made in your last paragraph.

Paix, mon ami.

__________________
Dr.G.
14" G4 iBook
15" MacBook Pro (July, 2009)
13" MacBooK Pro with Retina Display
Paix
"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read these books." Mark Twain